1 Samuel 13 -- Saul Caved And Shouldn't Have

Saul had mustered an army of 300,000 to help Jabesh Gilead, but then sent all but 3,000 home.  As they waited to start an attack against the Philistines, the men began to desert.  The Philistines had 6,000 men and that left the Israelites feeling outnumbered.  Samuel was late arriving and Saul had been told to wait for him.  My commentary said, “This rendezvous was the Lord’s way of testing Saul’s faith and patience.  Without faith and patience, we can’t receive what the Lord promises … Until we learn to trust God and wait on His timing, we can’t learn the other lessons He wants to teach us, nor can we receive the blessings He’s planned for us.”

 

Saul caved and played the priest, offering sacrifices to God.  He hadn’t yet learned that God doesn’t want sacrifice.  He wants obedience.”

 

Then when Samuel appeared, Saul began to practice deception and blame-shifting to cover up his sin, finally making the absolutely stupid statement:  “I forced myself to do it.” “The will is the servant of the mind and heart, but Saul’s thinking and desiring were totally out of the will of God,” my commentary said.  His rash decision resulted in God already having selected a man after His own heart to be king in his place.

 

Father, help me to have patience as You are at work in my life.  I want to be able to wait on Your perfect timing.  I’m facing three things right now that seem to be taking too long, and I just want them all to be done.  I’ve tried pushing them along, and I’ve almost wavered in my faith.  Thank You for giving me this very specific spiritual booster shot this morning, just when I needed it.

 

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford